NOW SHOWING: LONDON SCREEN GUIDE w/c 30.03.18
RADIANT CIRCUS hunts out the best independent movie nights, film events & gallery screenings in London for the week ahead*. Here’s our SCREEN GUIDE for 30 MAR to 05 APR 2018.
FRI 30 // SAT 31 // SUN 01 // MON 02 // TUE 03 // WED 04 // THU 05
Welcome to our weekly digest where we recommend moving pictures that might excite you.
This week is a quiet one as families gather for what looks like snow and Easter Eggs. The good news is that we’ve done the hunting for London’s alternative screen attractions so that you don’t have to. If you’re planning ahead, we’ve also published our epic APRIL roundup.
It’s a quiet week for festivals too, with only BFI Flare coming to a screaming climax on 01 APR at BFI Southbank. We’ve included Deeper Into Movies’ daylong festival of psychedelia – Altered States – as one of our regular attractions (01 APR).
As ISLE OF DOGS gets a wide release, the world continues its love affair with Wes Anderson with a smattering of choices from his filmography across the city. We really like the look of Genesis Cinema’s ISLE OF DOGS + ANIMATOR/PUPPETEER Q&A (30 MAR).
Finally, we fell so deeply in love with MY OWN PRIVATE HELL at BFI Flare – a micro-budget movie set in a queer community bar in South America – that we thought we’d pick something along similar lines as our Featured Attraction of the week. Camila José Donoso’s CASA ROSHELL begins its grind show run at ICA with an intro from director of photography, Pablo Rojo (30 MAR 19:30).
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#SCREENGUIDE: We highlight up to three SINGLE-O EXHIBITS (one-off events) each day and a quick roundup of others. There’s also a summary of MUSEUM SHOWS (divided into exhibitions and seasons) and GRIND SHOWS (regular runs & mainstream marvels) below the line. Follow date & section links to find what you want. Use your ‘back’ button to return here.
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NOW SHOWING: SINGLE-O EXHIBITS
ONE-OFF MOVIE NIGHTS, FILM EVENTS & GALLERY SCREENINGS (by date/event)
FRI 30
CARRIE + THELMA screens at Close-Up (30 & 31 MAR 19:30):
A double bill split over two days. The sexual awakening of two shy young women raised according to fundamentalist religious beliefs seemingly sparks telekinetic abilities they struggle to understand and control.
Second chance: THELMA enjoys a grind show run at Whirled Cinema (23 to 29 APR).
THE ISLANDS & THE WHALES + Q&A with director Mike Day screens at LEXI Cinema (30 MAR 18:30):
Over several years, director Mike Day spent time with the people of the Faroe Islands, recording their cultural traditions. The outcome is an enchanting film in which great natural wonder contrasts with animal rights protests, and wherein the islanders are faced with the consequences of continuing to embrace their way of life.
ISLE OF DOGS + ANIMATOR/PUPPETEER Q&A screens at Genesis Cinema (18:15):
When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with Andy Gent (puppet master) Mark Waring (animation director) Tobias Fouracre (animation supervisor).
Looking for something different (A–Z)? TROLL + TROLL 2 at The Prince Charles (30 MAR 20:45).
SAT 31
EXPLODING CINEMA screens at The Cinema Museum (31 MAR 19:00):
Exploding Cinema presents a night of “indie, undie and OTT short films… from animation to documentary, drama to CGI, and experimental to just plain mental”.
Second chance: EXPLODING CINEMA returns to The Horse Hospital (21 APR 19:00).
GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER + Q&A with director Michael Mooleedhar screens at Rio Cinema (31 MAR 12:30):
Fifteen year old Shell is the new boy in the village and quite a catch as far as the village girls are concerned, but he is focused on becoming a man in the wake of his father’s terminal illness. Based on the seminal novel by celebrated Trinidad and Tobago author Michael Anthony.
PICCADILLY + LIVE MUSIC & BURLESQUE screens at Talkies Community Cinema/Waterhouse Hall Theatre (31 MAR 19:30):
One of the pinnacles of British silent cinema, PICCADILLY is a sumptuous showbiz melodrama seething with sexual and racial tension. Enjoy live music and burlesque before the film from local talent Pete Sauders and Marianne Cheesecake.
Looking for something different (A–Z)? REAR WINDOW 35mm at The Prince Charles (31 MAR 18:15). BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA 70mm at The Prince Charles (31 MAR 20:45).
SUN 01
ALTERED STATES screens at Moth Club (01 APR 14:00):
Deeper Into Movies presents a day of psychedelic film including ENTER THE VOID, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN, PSYCHIC TV: THE FIRST TRANSMISSION, DMT: THE SPIRIT MOLECULE, SYD’S FIRST TRIP, THE INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DROME. There’ll be 15min breaks between films and DJ’s playing psych/chants/drone and other obscurities.
LAUREL & HARDY screens at Regent Street Cinema (01 APR 15:00):
The magic of Laurel and Hardy, back on the big screen. These silent comedies will be accompanied by a live soundtrack from Donald MacKenzie on the cinema’s original 1936 Compton organ. The films played will be: DO DETECTIVES THINK?; DOUBLE WHOOPEE; HABEAS CORPUS; LEAVE ‘EM LAUGHING.
STAR TREK MOVIE MARATHON screens at The Prince Charles (01 APR 21:45):
All 6 films in the original Star Trek movie series played back-to-back in one epic movie-marathon.
STAR TREK : THE MOTION PICTURE
STAR TREK II : THE WRATH OF KHAN • DIRECTORS CUT
STAR TREK III : THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK
STAR TREK IV : THE VOYAGE HOME
STAR TREK V : THE FINAL FRONTIER
STAR TREK VI : THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
There be rules: No admission to the cinema after midnight!
Looking for something different (A–Z)? THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL at Picturehouse Central (01 APR 13:00). THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY – EXTENDED EDITIONS at The Prince Charles (01 APR 21:30).
MON 02
LET’S GET PHYSICAL screens at The Book Club (02 APR 19:00):
Join Queerly Beloved for a night of film and spoken word exploring queer sensuality, sexual liberation, and physical intimacy! Performances and screenings will be followed by a panel and audience discussion with filmmakers/performers.
LOVE, SIMON screens at Picturehouse Central (02 APR 15:30):
For this preview screening, all customers will get to take home the first chapter of Leah and the Offbeat, the yet to be released 2018 sequel to Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda. 10 lucky viewers will also take home a copy of Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda by Becki Albertalli, courtesy of Penguin Books.
Looking for something different (A–Z)? THE BAD SLEEP WELL at BFI (02 APR 13:30). IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT at BFI (02 APR 15:45). KIND HEARTS & CORONETS (02 APR 17:50). THE BIG CITY at BFI (02 APR 20:00).
TUE 03
DEATHDREAM aka Dead Of Night screens at BFI Southbank (03 APR 20:50):
Charles and Christine Brooks should be delighted when their son Andy returns home from Vietnam. The only thing is, they had already been informed of his death…. “A deft blend of searing political allegory and wicked grindhouse thrills, this ingenious riff on the classic short story The Monkey’s Paw ranks alongside Romero’s Dead films in terms of socially smart, cerebral horror.” Also screens 07 APR 20:20.
WONDERSTRUCK screens at BFI Southbank (03 APR 18:10):
In 1977, following the death of his mother, young Ben sets out to New York to find his absentee father. In 1927, Rose is obsessed with silent movie star Lillian Mayhew and escapes from her neglectful father to head to the Big Apple to track her down. Todd Haynes’ imaginative adaptation of Brian Selznick’s young-adult novel about two desperately unhappy, hearing-impaired children dreaming of finding their place in the world is absolutely full of wonder.
Looking for something different (A–Z)? LIFE OF BRIAN at Genesis Cinema (03 APR 19:00 – Free!). THE ACCUSED 35mm at The Prince Charles (03 APR 18:20). THE BIG SLEEP at BFI (03 APR 20:40).
WED 04
DOUBLE BILL: BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY + SAMSON & DELILAH screens at Regent Street Cinema (04 APR 18:30 & 20:30):
Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr was known as the world’s most beautiful woman. However, her arresting looks and glamorous life stood in the way of her being given the credit she deserved as an ingenious inventor whose pioneering work helped revolutionize modern communication. Alexandra Dean’s stirring doc is followed by one of Lamarr’s most famous roles “based on events found in the Old Testament”.
DIASPORA – TRAILS OF MIGRATION screens at 93 Feet East (04 APR 18:30):
Shorts On Tap presents a selection of short films and documentaries narrating and depicting the stories of ordinary people, in their journeys to their ‘promised land’. Featuring live performances plus Q&As with the filmmakers and special guests.
EVEN WHEN I FALL + Q&A with filmmakers screens at BFI Southbank (04 APR 18:30):
Sheetal and Saraswoti met as teenagers in a Kathmandu refuge, survivors of child trafficking to corrupt Indian circuses and brought back across the border to a Nepal they could barely remember. Directors Sky Neal and Kate McLarnon and producer Elhum Shakerifar join a discussion led by for Liz McIntyre after the screening.
Second chances: join the discussion at Barbican (09 APR 18:20), DocHouse (12 APR 18:20), and Picturehouse Central (13 APR 18:30).
Looking for something different (A–Z)? MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE 35mm at The Prince Charles (04 APR 18:00). KIND HEARTS & CORONETS + INTRO by Claire Smith at BFI (02 APR 18:15). LOVELESS + SHORT at Screen25 (04 APR 19:45). SORCERER at Pitshanger Pictures at St Barnabas Millennium Halls (04 APR 20:15). THE MASTER 35mm at The Prince Charles (04 APR 20:30). THOROUGHBREDS at BFI (04 APR 21:00).
THU 05
CITY OF GHOSTS screens at Whirled Cinema (05 APR 20:00):
A real-life international thriller, CITY OF GHOSTS exposes a new type of warfare: a battle over ideas, a fight for hearts and minds, a conflict over clicks and views. Captivating in its immediacy, it follows the journey of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently – a handful of anonymous activists who banded together after their homeland was taken over by ISIS in 2014.
Looking for something different (A–Z)? THE BAD SLEEP WELL at BFI (05 APR 18:00). BANDE À PART at BFI (05 APR 18:30). THE THIN RED LINE 35mm at The Prince Charles (05 APR 20:00). THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS + A TRUMANS BEER at Genesis Cinema (05 APR 21:00).
NOW SHOWING: MUSEUM SHOWS PART 1
EXHIBITIONS (by event/venue)
BL CK B X: VANALYNE GREEN screens at LUX Moving Image (until 14 APR – FREE, check for opening days/times):
LUX presents a solo exhibition of video work by American artist Vanalyne Green, as part of the free BL CK B X exhibition series. Vanalyne Green has screened her video work extensively in the United States and abroad.
HE XIANGYU: EVIDENCE screens at White Cube Bermondsey (until 08 APR – FREE, check for times):
White Cube presents an exhibition of He Xiangyu at Bermondsey, including his feature length film, THE SWIM (2017), as well as new installation, sculpture and video. THE SWIM will be screened twice daily in the auditorium (TUE to SAT at 11:00 & 15:00 and once on SUN at 15:00).
IAN CHENG screens at the Serpentine Galleries (until 28 MAY – FREE, check for opening days/times):
Artist Ian Cheng likens his live simulations to ‘a computer game that plays itself’, testing the capacity of humans to relate to continual change. Meet his new AI species, BOB (evolving in real time from 6 March to 22 April). The second part of the exhibition takes over from 22 APR with his trilogy of simulations, EMISSARIES (2015-17).
JOAN JONAS at Tate Modern (until 05 AUG):
Hero to a generation of younger artists, Joan Jonas is a pioneer of performance and video who has pushed the boundaries of art for the last five decades. This is the largest exhibition of Jonas’ work ever held in the UK. Installations include Lines in the Sand, The Juniper Tree and Reanimation.
JOAN JONAS –THEY COME TO US WITHOUT A WORD II screens at Tate Modern (18:00, 19:15 & 20:30 – Free!): Discover an intricate web of ghost stories, projections, drawings and music in this free screening.
PATRICK HOUGH, JOHN SKOOG, and ØRJAN AMUNDSEN screens at The Whitechapel Gallery (until 01 APR – FREE, check for times):
A selection of artists from The Whitechapel’s ARTISTS’ FILM INTERNATIONAL partnership of moving image galleries. The 2018 edition focuses on the theme of truth. Each of the selected artists explore the relationship between fact and fiction.
ROSA BARBAR, ROBERTAS NARKUS & JOKŪBAS ČIŽIKAS, DANIELLE DEAN screens at The Whitechapel Gallery (03 APR to 03 JUN – FREE, check for times):
A selection of artists from The Whitechapel’s ARTISTS’ FILM INTERNATIONAL partnership of moving image galleries. The 2018 edition focuses on the theme of truth. Each of the selected artists explore the relationship between fact and fiction.
SANDRA PERRY: TYPHOON COMING ON screens at Serpentine Galleries (until 20 MAY – FREE, check with the gallery for opening days/times):
The Serpentine presents the first European solo exhibition of American artist Sondra Perry who explores the intersection of black identity, digital culture and power structures through video, media, installation and performance.
TACITA DEAN: PORTRAIT screens at the National Portrait Gallery (until 28 MAY – Tickets £14/£12.50 concession, check with the gallery for opening days/times):
This major new exhibition will focus on portraiture primarily through the medium of 16mm film. The exhibition will be the first in the gallery’s history to be devoted to the medium of film, and also reveals Tacita Dean’s own longstanding and personal interest in portraiture as a genre.
TACITA DEAN: STILL LIFE screens at the National Gallery (until 28 MAY – FREE, check with the gallery for opening days/times):
STILL LIFE presents a diverse selection of works in a variety of mediums. Works by the artist herself – including a new film diptych made especially for the exhibition, IDEAS FOR SCULPTURE IN A SETTING and PRISONER PAIR (2008, 16mm) – feature alongside works by Dean’s contemporaries and paintings from the National Gallery Collection.
NOW SHOWING: MUSEUM SHOWS PART 2
SEASONS (by event/venue)
ALTITUDE FILMS screens at Deptford Cinema (03 to 30 APR):
An incredible season of films in partnership with the film distributor begins with MOONLIGHT (03 APR 19:30). – UPDATE [03 APR]: CANCELLED.
ANIMATION 2018 screens at BFI Southbank (until DEC):
BFI continues a yearlong celebration of animation with WATERSHIP DOWN (02 APR 13:40).
CÉSAR & HER concludes at Ciné Lumière ( until 31 MAR):
The season about women that were celebrated in France’s most prestigious cinema award ceremony, the César, concludes with LE GOÛT DES AUTRES (30 MAR 14:00) and POLISSE (31 MAR 18:20).
CLOSE-UP ON ANDREY ZVYAGINTSEV screens at Close-Up (01 to 28 APR):
“Stark and austere in both style and theme, the films of Siberian-born Andrey Zvyagintsev explore moral dilemmas and spiritual torment with unabashed, painful honesty” – MOMA. All his features are here: LOVELESS (01 APR 20:00); THE RETURN (02 & 05 APR); and, ELENA (03 APR 20:15).
CLOSE-UP ON HAL HARTLEY screens at Close-Up (04 APR to 30 APR):
“[Hal Hartley’s] films are all immediately identifiable by the deliberate cadence to his actors’ delivery and the strange normalcy that cloaks even the most eccentric turns of his plot lines.” – Harvard Film Archive. This programme presents six films by the American film director, writer and pioneer of the independent film movement: THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH (04 APR 20:00); FLIRT (05 APR 20:00).
CLOSE-UP ON KRZYSZTOF KIEŚLOWSKI screens at Close-Up (03 to 25 APR):
“A filmmaker preoccupied with similarities and paradoxes, Krzysztof Kieślowski’s own career seems to have slowly inverted over the years from one centered on political realities to one of effervescent abstraction. Upon closer examination, however, both ends of his career focus on human individuals struggling to reconcile daily life with its cultural myths.” – Senses of Cinema. Screenings begin with DEKALOG 1 & 2 (03 APR 18:00).
DIRECTED BY WOMEN screens at Deptford Cinema:
This month you can pick from Cecilia Aldarondo’s MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART – also filed under #QueerLatino (04 APR 20:00).
D.I.Y. screens at House of Vans (05 APR to 29 APR):
A film series celebrating low budget flicks at their best, all free to see (no booking required) at House Of Vans. Screenings begin with SNATCH (05 APR 17:00 & 19:00).
ESSENTIAL CINEMA XII screens at Close-Up (01 to 29 APR):
A series of films that have shaped the history and art of cinema. This month’s programme features screenings of: ZERO FOR CONDUCT + THE 400 BLOWS (01 APR 17:00); THE FIRE WITHIN (02 APR 18:00); LIFT TO THE SCAFFOLD (04 APR 18:00).
MAY ’68 AND ITS LEGACIES screens at Ciné Lumière (01 APR to 23 MAY):
Includes JEAN-LUC GODDARD HEAD: ING TO ’68 (01 to 29 APR) and a film season that shows the impact of these years (04 to 23 MAY). Screening this week: LE GAI SAVOIR (01 APR 14:00).
SERGIO LEONE screens at BFI Southbank (APR):
BFI begins a new season designed to help re-evaluate the Italian legend in light of the number of modern westerns that are hitting the screens in 2018. Things get kicked off – bizarrely enough – with THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES 35mm (04 APR 18:10).
MODERN WESTERNS screens alongside the Sergio Leone season and includes: HELL OR HIGH WATER (02 APR 16:40); and, SWEET COUNTRY (03 & 05 APR).
VIEW FROM UNDERGROUND screens at Regent Street Cinema (05 to 25 APR):
A new season of three special screenings starts with : an evening of surprises with British underground film-makers Anthony Stern and Kevin Whitney, PROJECTING PYSCHEDELIA (05 APR 19:30).
WES ANDERSON LATES screens at Everyman Screen On The Green (until 14 APR):
The season continues with: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (31 MAR 23:30).
WOMEN ON FILM screens at House Of Vans (until 01 APR):
The series of free screenings, no booking required, concludes with: BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (30 MAR 17:00 & 19:00); and, THELMA & LOUISE (31 MAR 15:00 & 17:30).
WOODFALL: A REVOLUTION IN BRITISH CINEMA screens at BFI Southbank (APR):
BFI begins a new season in tribute to the films that changed British cinema. Films include: THE ENTERTAINER (02 APR 15:50); SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING (02 APR 18:15); A TASTE OF HONEY (02 & 05 APR); MADEMOISELLE 35mm (03 APR 20:35); KES (03 APR 18:15); THE KNACK… AND HOW TO GET IT 35mm (05 APR 20:55). LOOK BACK IN ANGER gets a re-release grind show (02 to 16 APR).
NOW SHOWING: GRIND SHOWS
REGULAR RUNS & MAINSTREAM MARVELS (by title)
120 BPM screens at Ciné Lumière (04 APR to 08 MAY):
Drawing directly on his personal experience, Robin Campillo’s extraordinary account of AIDS activist group ACT UP-Paris in the 1990s is a deeply emotional and bracingly sensual film, which exults a lust for life and revolt in every single shot rushing with youthful energy. This vibrant drama won the Grand Prix at Cannes last year and 6 César Awards this year, including Best Film.
CASA ROSHELL screens at ICA (30 MAR to 03 APR):
Roshell and Liliana run Casa Roshell, a transgender club in Mexico City. A small room with a stage receives their guests with intimacy, among performances, workshops and lip syncing. Director Camila José Donoso immersed herself in this niche world, mixing digital, 16mm film and television footage. Part of Latin America Monthly, the screening on 30 MAR is introduced by director of photography, Pablo Rojo.
CUSTODY screens at Ciné Lumière (31 MAR to 01 MAY):
Winner of the Silver Lion in Venice last year, Custody is a psychological drama by up and coming director Xavier Legrand. Held hostage to the escalating conflict between his parents, Julien is pushed to the edge to prevent the worst from happening.
THE ICE KING screens at The Montpellier (01 to 11 APR):
John Curry transformed ice skating from a dated sport into an exalted art form. Coming out on the night of his Olympic win in 1976, he became the first openly gay Olympian in a time when homosexuality was not even fully legal.
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*THE SMALL PRINT: As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any mistakes. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version. We don’t filter by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should be 18+. We only include events you can book for at the time of posting. Please click quickly!
Featured image: CASA ROSHELL (2017).